envisioning dear members Comments on this issue? Ideas for future issues of Connection? Let us hear from you! [email protected] ��������� In the breathless excitement ���������������������������������������� of post-election possibilities, NETWORK—a Catholic leader we are gearing up for the in the global movement 110th Congress. We are NOTE TO ALL MEMBERS: for justice and peace— holding out hope that it will, educates, organizes and in deed and not just word, Be sure to vote for two new members lobbies for economic and social transformation. be a bipartisan effort to solve for NETWORK’s Board of Directors. the problems of economic NETWORK Board of Directors Elizabeth Avalos, BVM Barbara Lange injustice in our federal Ballots can be found on the back page and Marie Clarke Brill Marie Lucey, OSF policies. Simone Campbell, SSS Lourdes Mendoza must be postmarked by March 15. Joan Carey, SSJ Kateri Mitchell, SSA We are also working to Cathleen Crayton Suzanne Sassus, CSJ Patricia Crowley, OSB Aisha Smith Taylor bolster our hope with more Jackie Griffith, SSJ Sandra Thibodeux, MMB determined and effective Linda Howell-Perrin, LSW Mary T. Yelenick action. More than ever, your Barbara Jennings, CSJ advocacy will be important NETWORK Education Program Board of Directors to ensure that the change Kit Hinga, SSJ called for by voters comes Contents Dorothy Jackson, SCN to pass. Therefore, you will Kathleen Phelan, OP Margaret Phipps notice a new look to our envisioning Mary Ann Smith, MM Web site. We are always Redirection NETWORK Staff working to make it more 3 Communications Coordinator/Editor— Simone Campbell, SSS, explores the electorate’s user-friendly and informa- hunger for change—and NETWORK’s response. Stephanie Niedringhaus tive. Check us out at www. Coordinator of Annual Giving—Hanna Rutz Director of Major Gifts and Planned Giving— networklobby.org and see for cover story Lindsay Gonzales yourself. We welcome your Conscious Collaboration Executive Director—Simone Campbell, SSS feedback. 4 NETWORK Board Chair Mary Yelenick unveils Field Associate/Editorial Assistant—Jessica Guentzel We are also gearing up NETWORK’s freshly articulated vision and mission, along with our plans for stronger ties Field Coordinator—Jean Sammon for more action with the new with members across the nation. IT Coordinator—Joy Wigwe Congress. Our lobbyists are Lobbyists—Marge Clark, BVM; Catherine Pinkerton, CSJ preparing our issue agenda, voting record Lobby Associates—Morgan Gregson, and we have already started Voting Record of the 109th Elena Lacayo making appointments with 6 Office/Membership Coordinator— Congress, 2nd Session Ann Dunn representatives and senators. See how your legislators voted on issues that We are poised to put our mattered. Catherine Pinkerton, CSJ, provides an NETWORK Education Program Staff hope into action. insightful overview of the year in the voting record Jean Sammon (part-time) Finally, in the days introduction. Articles in NETWORK Connection may be reprinted. Please include the following ahead, our working together on the reprints: “Reprinted with permis- making a difference around the country will be sion from NETWORK, a National Catholic more important than ever. The Voters Have Spoken. Social Justice Lobby, 25 E Street NW, 15 Suite 200, Washington, DC 20001, www. We look forward to our What Can We Expect Now? networklobby.org.” Please send us a copy continued partnership, and Jean Sammon looks at some implications of the of the reprinted article. November elections and NETWORK’s goals for know that together we can January/February 2007—Vol. 35, No. 1 constituent activism. NETWORK Connection be God’s Body healing the ISSN 0199-5723 world. special ballot Published bimonthly by NETWORK Board Election Ballot PHONE 202-347-9797 FAX 202-347-9864 16 E-MAIL: [email protected] for NETWORK Members WEB SITE: www.networklobby.org POSTMASTER: SEND ADDRESS CHANGES TO NETWORK 25 E Street NW, Suite 200 Washington, DC 20001 Annual dues: $50/$60 international. Copyright © 2007 NETWORK. Design: Eugenia Kim Our cover art was painted by Sandra Bier- man of Boulder, CO. Entitled “Spirit,” the painting shows an eternal figure who looks resolutely into the future. This issue of Con- nection explores NETWORK’s plans for the future and how our spirit-filled members will play a vital role. We are grateful to Sandra Bierman for allowing us to use her beauti- ful painting. You can see more of her art at www.sandrabierman.com. 2 Connection January/February 2007 www.networklobby.org envisioning BY SIMONE CAMPBELL, SSS As I traveled the country in the pre-midterm election autumn say that the harder work is ahead. As we breathe a sigh of of 2006, I met people everywhere with a deep hunger for a relief that change is not only possible but has happened, it is new political spirit in our country. In North Carolina, I met abundantly clear that the direction of change is not guaran- people eager to find a way beyond partisan bickering in order teed. The temptation is all too great to slip back into the bad to solve the issues affecting us today. In Connecticut, I met habits of the last decade. On the cusp of this change, there is folks who struggle every day to meet the needs of people who an alluring temptation to blame, bicker and slip into right- live on the very edge of economic survival. They hungered for eousness. For the sake of our country and our world, these a return to a nation that cares for all of its people. In Ohio, temptations must be resisted and a new path created. people asked repeatedly if their votes would be counted— To this end, over the last year NETWORK Board and staff and could policies be changed to address low wages and the have been engaged in a process of strategic planning. We have needs of the working poor? In California, people hungered strained to read the signs of the times and the message of the for another approach to immigration that really deals with the Spirit in our midst. We have read the signs that people hunger needs of people and not the posturing of politicians. In Wis- for something new and that existing political processes are consin, people yearned for a return to civility and the actual not working. We have read the signs that the needs of those work of governing. In Maryland and Virginia, people thirsted who live at the economic margins of our country and world for a government for the common good. are not being addressed and that there is a rising wealth dis- And on November 7, 2006, people all over this country parity. We have read the signs that the political will to solve voted. I see the cumulative effect of the election as an expres- the problems may be lacking and that globalization is adding sion of hunger and hope—hunger for something new and complexity by making all issues global. hope that our democratic systems can make this happen. In the process, we have celebrated NETWORK’s strengths. But as challenging as the work of autumn 2006 was, I must We delight in this beautiful (and informative) magazine. We are www.networklobby.org January/February 2007 Connection 3 in awe of our mushrooming munity of relationships e-advocacy presence on the could help us find new Hill, your participation in it, answers to the ever more and the work of our staff to complex issues of our day. enhance its capabilities. We Thus, we have come to honor our lobbyists and all think of our new strate- of their work to shape more gic plan as the call to cre- just legislation. We marvel ate community not only at our leadership within within staff and Board, but coalitions and are grateful also with all of you across for the breadth and depth the country. We need staff of that collaborative work. in regions who can serve We also treasure our staff as connectors of good ener- and Board community that nourishes all that we do to gies and ideas in shaping a create justice in our trou- new direction. We need to bled world. Without that understand local examples nourishing reality, our well of policies and programs would soon run dry. that are working. We want In the strategic plan- to be able to share informa- ning process, we put these tion around the country and strengths up against the help put our legislators “in signs of the times. We were the loop.” We want to facili- delighted to see that we are tate communication among gifted with many ways to all of us so that we might respond to this moment in experience not the loneli- time. We saw that our will- ness of the past few years, ingness to be a progressive but rather a stronger sense faith voice in our country, of meaningful solidarity— our advocacy rooted in so we feel that we are called reflection, our Web pres- to create shared relation- ence, our magazine, and ships that can support all our other resources are all of us in our everyday advo- well positioned to create cacy for just legislation. something new. It is this process of And then we saw a hole change and growth that is and experienced an invita- the source of our conver- tion to the next phase of sion. We sense that the next step is to keep our strengths growth for NETWORK. flourishing while growing in We saw that your hun- new ways. We strive to have ger for something new and our messages improved, our that your sense of being approach more integrated, alone in this feeling were and our sense of communi- calling us to new ways.